Toothbrush



w. G. ROBEY TOOTHBRUSH Nov. 18, 1952 Filed April 5. 1948 LRIN IMNIN WWW z is fi a mmwn NNN$\$M\M\ NMWVMN WW N Y \N -vention as claimed.

Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES 'PATENTL OFFICE T r 2,618,003 7 c- TOOTHBRUSH I William G. Robey, Grafton, W. Va. Application April5, 1948, Serial No. 19,o12

1 Claim.

This invention relates to toothbrushes and the like;

An object of this invention is to provide a {toothbrush having a handle adapted for permanent use and having means for removably mounting a toothbrush in the head end thereof, so that the same may be readily renewed when worn or easily removed forcleaning so as to maintain the brush in a sanitary condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a permanent toothbrush holder and handle which may be made of any suitable material such as plastic, metal, ivory, etc., and the brush proper of similar material in which the bristles which may 'also be of plastic are embedded and the -,head-of the handle provided with an opening, recess or socket having means to removably receive and hold the toothbrus-h head so-that the latter will be properly held in position for use, but maybe readily removed by inserting a fingernail or any sharp obj'ect'to lift the brush out of the holder, thereby forming a permanent instrument in which a new brush may be inserted when needed at small cost. f

To the foregoing objects, and others which mayhereinaft'er more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resortedto which fall within the scope of the in- In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toothbrush constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan of the head end of the brush.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modifioation and with the brush head proper partly in position as when being inserted or removed.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line '|1 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the brush is shown as comprising a handle III of any suitable type and of plastic, metal, ivory or other suitable materialhilt is shown provided with a. tapered portion I! merging into a reduced shank l2 and an oppositely taperedor enlarged portion 13 forming a head 14 of substantially enlarged rectangular shape and plan and suitable thickness substantially corresponding to that of the shank or slightly greater; The bristles are indicated at l5, and may be of tufts of suitable material or even plastic, and embedded in ahead proper IB adapted to be removably mounted in an opening,

socket or recess I of rectangularformprovided in the underside of thehea d l4. 7

The-recess n forms" a top wan l a; side "walls I a,

a rear wall 20 and a front wall 2L] Embedded or otherwise secured in the 'top wall [8 is a suitable fastening means, such as a resilientispring metal strip 22 disposed centrally and longitudi nally thereof in the form shown and havingright angularly bent ends formed with spring "catches or jaws, 23,;bent in opposite,directionstdwar'd each other after passing into the recess l1 through'tlie inner thicknessof the wall l8 in spacedfrelati'on to the end walls 20, a nd *'2l,- As shown, these catches or jawsiare bent convexly inwardly-with their extremities bent outwardly and the brush head proper i6 is adapted to be inserted finjthe opening or socket l1 fordetacha'ble engagement brush,head.,,

, Preferably, .each endof the head [6 is provided with a transverse recess or seat 25 shown of concave form into which the catches 23 are adapted to engage so as to removably hold the brush head in position by resilient or frictional engagement of the catches or snap springs therein or otherwise, as it is thought will be apparent. The transverse grooves or recesses 25 form transverse projecting ribs or engaging portions 26 for insertion of the fingernail or an instrument therebeneath to easily remove the brush head and bristles from engaged position. The inner end is also preferably exmnded at an angle or inclined toward the rear and open side of the head I4 at the recess l1 and is provided with an additional transverse groove or recess 21 forming a projecting rib or lip 28 adjacent a groove or recess 29 in th bottom face of the portion IS in the rear wall 20 at the open side of the recess adjacent the rib or lip 28 to facilitate insertion of a. fingernail or instrument for raising the brush head I6 to easily remove the same from its socket or recess and the adjacent angularly inclined or beveled end of the brush head 16 prevents binding of the latter. Of course, the device may also be removed from the opposite end oronly one of the recesses 24 need communicate or extend through the lower face of the head [4, or be provided to extend from recess ll.

It will thus be seen that the toothbrush proper may be readily' inserted in the socket, opening or seat of the handle, the latter forming a permanent part of the instrument in which a new brush may be inserted when needed at small cost.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the construction is generally the same and corresponding parts are similarly numbered,

except that the opening or recess I1 is open atr the frontend as shown at 29 and slidably receives the brush head proper 16 carrying the bristles l5. For this purpose, the side walls ii! are provided: on their inner faces with grooves 30 extending longitudinally for slidable engagement by ribs"3l projecting out from the opposite sides of the head l6 at asuitable point between the bottomand open side of the recess 11 so as to frictionally and detachablyretain the brush in position. The part of the brush head I6 in which the bristles are embedded may be separate from the part which engages in the recess I1 or integral therewith and. if separate, may be fused, cemented or otherwise secured together. The opposite walls l8 may be contracted slightly less than the width of the'head [6 or made resilient so as to give proper frictional engagement to detachably hold the head 16 in position. Where the head forming a part of the'handle is open, this end isadapted to be closed by a transverse wall 32 formed at the front of the head l6 as a flange projecting from the sides as indicated at 33 and at the top as indicated at 34 so as to fit against r the front ends of the walls I8 and I9 and close the opening 29.. Some cement or adhesive may be provided to temporarily augment the. attachment of the removable brush head so as not to interfere with its convenient removal whenreplacing the brush or for cleaning purposes to maintain the sanitary condition thereof, or resilient or spring catches formed by or separate from walls l9, or even 18 or 20, provided to detachably hold brush head M in position.

A cap 35 may be applied over the shank and taperedfront portion of the handle l0 and brush head. l4-l5, the same having a tubular portion over the shank frictionally or threadably engaged detachably on the handle III near the shank. l2 andtaperedportion H as indicated at 36. As

shown, the handle I0 is bulged and has external threads on which may be threaded internal threads at the open inner end of the cap which is large enough for the cap to go over the brush. The closed front end of the cap is also enlarged as at 31 to accommodate the brush head and allow the bristles to straighten out after giving when cap is shoved over them.

I claim:

In a toothbrush, a relatively wide head formed with an elongated recess opening through one face thereof, an elongated bar embedded in said head in the bottom of said recess, arcuate catch members extending from the ends of said bar and projecting into said recess adjacent the opposite ends of the latter, and a brush formed of a back and bristles carried by said back, said back removably seating in said recess and formed with transverse grooves in the opposite ends thereof within which said catch members engage, said head having a. concave finger recess adjacent one end of said first named recess, said back having a second transverse channel at one end thereofwhereby a finger extended into said finger recess may release said brush from said catch members.

WILLIAM G. ROBE-Y.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this. patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 68,259 Thayer Aug. 27, 1867 744,370 Levinger Nov. 17, 1903 1,092,014 Briggs Mar. 31, 1914 1,241,881 Picard Oct. 2, 1917 1,259,245 Kessler' et a1 Mar. 12, 1918 1,260,139 Brown Mar. 19, 1918 1,396,630 Higbee Nov. 8, 1921 1,415,898 Rost May 16, 1922 1,638,054 Myers Aug. 9, 1927 1,705,109 Essbach Mar. 12, 1929 1,735,802 Statute Nov. 12, 1929 1,897,365 Duey Feb. 14, 1933 1,910,984 Caruso May 23, 1933 2,326,632 Friedman Aug. 10, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7 17,527 Great Britain July 29, 1912 of 1912 377,104 Great Britain July 21, 1932 

